Olympic Skater Brian Boitano Opens Up About Coming Out

Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano made headlines last month when he confirmed to the public that he is gay - after years of speculation. The athlete opened up about his decision to come out in an interview with "Today" host Matt Lauer.

"When the president named the delegation, and I read in the news what his message was of tolerance and diversity, I thought, I have to take this opportunity,'' Boitano, 50, told Lauer. "I've always wanted to represent my country as best I could, and I knew that I had to go past my comfort zone and reveal a private side of my life that I've never done before because I felt that the message is so strong."

He added that the fact three openly gay athletes are going to the Olympics in February "speaks measures" when it comes to Russia's highly controversial "homosexual propaganda" law.